I’ve mentioned before I hate transportation days and hate border crossings even more. I don’t know why but I get so scared before both of them & I can’t help it. I’m a huge procrastinator and normally leave doing research for my next destination off until a day or two before I am heading that way. For Morocco it was a bit different every night I would spend some time on the internet doing research on what places to visit and of course how to get there.
When I plan my route I make sure I take into account where I am coming from and where I am going next. I try to plan the most logical route to get me to my next destination and where I want to visit in the coming weeks. I knew I was going to be going to Valencia for La Tomatina, but still wanted to visit Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. It would have been stupid for me to go from Valencia to either of those and then back down to Morocco. So instead from Valencia visited Granada (loved it) and then made my way down to Algeciras. I knew you could get to Morocco from Algeciras, but could not find any definite directions online on how to. So that is why I am giving you these 6 easy steps.
How to get from Algeciras, Spain to Chefchaouen, Morocco.
1st step –
Assuming you have made it to Algeciras from here you are going to book a ferry to Ceuta, Spain (yes a part of Spain is in Africa I had no clue). To book the ferry you can visit the port and book a ticket at any of the travel agencies down there. You will see so many. I walked past them and went to the actual terminal to buy my ticket. Two companies run from Algeciras to Ceuta “Balearia” and “Acciona”. The price difference is not much so either is fine. I went with Balearia because they had the time I wanted 9am. A one-way ticket cost me 34euro. Be sure when you book the ticket they give you the entrance & exit forms that you will need at the border crossing.
2nd step –
The ferry I took from Algeciras to Ceuta.
Assuming you have booked your ticket you have now just docked in Ceuta, Spain. From here you will disembark make your way down to exit the terminal. When you exit the terminal walk straight until you hit the first street when you do you will make a left. You will see several supermarkets on your right hand side. Walk forward until you hit the end and you must turn right. Once you make the right you will walk just a bit more to the bus stop. From here you are going to take bus #7 to “La Frontera” (the border). It is a 15-minute bus ride & cost .70cents. It is the last stop so you will see everyone get off.
3rd step –
You have arrived at the border. You do not need an exit stamp from Spain so follow everyone as they cross to the Moroccan entrance. A man will be standing at a make shift door and see that you do not have a stamp. He will then direct you to where you need to get the stamp. It’s weird because you are directed to the same place cars are crossing the border at. When you get to the guy hand him your passport along with your entrance form. He will then stamp it and you are good to cross the man at the door.
4th step –
As soon as you cross that door you are in a whole different world. You will see a lot of men just hanging around walk past them and ignore them. Then you will see like 100 taxi’s waiting in lines. Ask for a taxi heading to Tetuan. The driver will try and convince you to get it all by yourself. Let him know you are not in a rush and that you want it to be a “COLLECTIVO” where it’s you and 5 others. I had to wait about 10-15minutes before others (locals) came along that needed to go to Tetuan. Ask for the price before hand should not be more than 2euros. I paid 2euros even though I know the locals paid less. I did not want to haggle because 2euros for a 45min taxi ride is not bad.
5th step –
The bus I took from Tetouan to Chefchaouen in Morocco.
45minutes later you have arrived at Tetuan. Let the taxi driver know you want to be dropped off near the bus station. I was dropped off about 1km from the station. Was a walk downhill so not bad at all. This is what the bus station looks like. When you walk into the bus station again you will see tons of men trying to get you to where you want. Walk past them and make it to the windows. I purchased my ticket from window 3 for MAD15 ($2). Make sure it’s the right window because things do change. It was a bus ticket from Tetuan to Chefchauoen.
6th step –
1.5 hours later you have arrived from Tetuan to Chefchauoen. You are now here and just need to make your way to your hostel/hotel.
OTHER TIPS & INFORMATION
- In Ageciras, Spain I stayed at Lisboa Hostel for 2nights in a private room (it was only 3euros more than a dorm). The gentleman running the hostel was very nice & helpful as I planned for my trip to Morocco. The WiFi was also very good and I was able to get a lot of blog work done.
- In Chechaouen, Morocco I stayed at Pension Soulka had booked for 3nights and ended up staying a week. I have fallen in love with this town (more on that later). This hostel is very nice and cheap. Only book 2 nights online to make sure you have a spot, but if you want to stay longer let them know and you get a cheaper rate than online with them.
- Morocco is 2hours behind Spain. So as soon as you enter Morocco be sure to move your watch back 2 hours. If it’s noon in Spain it’s 10am in Morocco.
- Be sure to have change (coins) so that you pay the bus in Ceuta to “La Frontera” and so that you can just give the taxi driver 2euros for the drive to Tetuan.
- Go ahead and change about 20euros into Moroccan currency so that you have it for your bus ticket purchase and anything else that may arise.
- The reason I started my trip in Morocco in Chefchaouen is because now from here I can make my way to Fez – Marrakesh – Essaouira – Casablanca – Rabat (in that order) with out having to back track and then back to finish Spain through Tangier!
Yup it is that simple… I stressed so much over nothing. In total it was about an 8 hour transportation day and hassle free. This should help you and answer any questions you may have. If for some reason you have any other questions or concerns feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. I am always happy to help anyone out.
thank you! this kind of information is so helpful and actually exciting to read about – makes it even more real for me. I didn’t part of Spain was in Africa either!! less than 24 hours for my rtwsoon by the way!
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Your welcome Sherry I rarely do TIP post while I am on the road, I plan on writing a lot of them once I am back home to keep my blog going in between travels. Congrats on starting your RTW trip… let me know if you need anything I will be more than happy to help ya out. I will check out your blog soon too.
I think this is one of the most helpful “how to” posts ever. How did you piece together all of this information?
Kent @ No Vacation Required recently posted..Overcome Your Fear of Cruising
Thanks Kent, I just wrote it down as I made my way from Spain to Morocco. This is the type of instructions I would love to find for everything I need to do on the road jaja!
I felt like I was with you during this transportation day. Your i nformation is so helpful!
I hope to remember when it’s my turn to travel.
xoxo
QueenB
Jaja you know its how I write… glad I brought ya along. Oh trust me I have so many tips. Hope your time comes soon~
Awesome post bro…where we you when we needed an efficient route through Morocco….we have a decent amount of zig-zagging planned…nowhere near as efficient as you…well done!
Skott and Shawna recently posted..Friday is Couscous Day-Cookin’ in Meknes!
LOL… S&S you just gotta always think ahead. I just look at a map of a country and see whats the best to not have to back track so much. The good thing about Morocco is that if you do have to well it’s cheap to do so.
Excellent instructions. The only other instructions that were as helpful were Slopony on Cat Ba island, Vietnam. Their site gives similar instructions from bus station in Hanoi to Cat Ba Town on Cat Ba Island. Thanks so much!
Thank you very much Jan! So are you heading down there soon? If you are let me know can give ya tons of tips!
Very helpful tips. My hubby and I are planning to do Ceuta to Fez with a car rental from Spain. We plan to drive back to Algeciras from Morocco. What do you think? Thanks.
I think you should be fine Susan, I saw MANY cars going through there. I have no clue what paper work you would need & what not so I hope you do look into that, but you should be fine. It all seemed so safe and was so easy breasy for me. Hope it goes smooth for yall. Im a bit jealous you will have a car through Morocco. You will love it.
Great post. Was starting to panic about this but you have made me feel more relaxed. One question – changing money. I’ve only just realised you can’t take money over the border. Sounds like taxi drivers are happy taking Euro’s. Is this still the case? Was it easy to change money once over the boarder? Sounds like you did that in Tetuan. I was thinking of taking a taxi direct from the boarder crossing to Chefchaoeun. Any idea of price?
Thanks Luke, hope it helped. As for money I was worried about the same thing so changed about 50 euros in Spain to Moroccan currency to have enough on me until I got to my final destination and use an ATM. I don’t know how much a taxi is, I think it would be quite expensive because it’s quite the distance. The buses are not that bad and make for quite the adventure. Hope this all helps. Let me know if you need anything else.
This is EXACTLY what I needed to read; I’m planning a trip into Morocco from Spain and I wanted to pass through Ceuta instead of Tangier to get to my first stop, Chefchaouen. So thank you!!!
Glad this helps you Trevor… please let me know if you need anything else. It’s a smooth transportation day… 😉
Just wanted to thank you for your comprehensive advice – we did exactly this in April this year and your how to was spot on!
YAY… I’m so happy Karen this post is still helping people. I remember searching and searching for how to do this and it was a mess, so I am happy I can help others.
That was so helpful Jaime. Thanks
So glad it helped you Abee!!!
I’ve been looking this info up for hours. Am in Granada and am going to do exactly this in a couple of days. Really helpful. Thanks so much for this!
Ah I love that this is still helping people Diane. I know how you feel it took me hours to figure this out so is why I had to make this post. Glad it helped you and I hope you enjoy Morocco. Oh & man take your time in Chefchaoun. It’s one of a kinda for sure.
Thank you so much for these information. I will go to Teuan from Algciras tomorrow for a day trip, and the most information I found online are recommended to take a tour. I’m glad I found your page tonight!
Hi Suzuka, so happy this was able to help you! It’s an easy transportation day. Let me knwo if you need anything else!
What do you mean by entrance form? And where do you find these?
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Morgan, it’s the regular forms you have to fill in to get into a country just about everywhere. The customs forms. Where you fill out name age, passport type # and everything else. I don’t remember where I got it from. I think from the ferry.
We follwed your excellent directions through Ceuta today and we were able to get
Chechaouen. with no significant difficulties. The bus stop for the L7 bus even had shade.
We got a copy of the Morocaan customs forms at the place where we got our pasports stamped.
We paid 15 euros to get a grand taxi by ourselves to Tetuan. We could ntot get the price any lower. It woulld have cost 40 euros to get to Chefcouauen. We had to wait 2.5 hours to get the Chefchaouen bus. The grand taxi driver dropped us off at the main bus terminal and not the CMT terminal. There is a decent cafeteria at the bus station.
We had to hire a local to get us to our hotel, we would have neve found it otherwise.
Thanks again for the great directions!
Mark
THANK YOU SO MUCH MARK. I’m so happy this post is still helping people on the road. I remember being so frustrated and scared jajaja! Glad they helpd you. Hope you loved Chef. as much as I did.
Hi Mark, the bus station at Ceuta should be CMT terminal or main bus terminal
I’m heading to Algeciras tomorrow on an overnight bus and was wondering if I had to pre-book my ticket to Tangier or not. Then I read your post and it made me change my plans for Morocco totally (not that had much of a plan!). Now I’ll be doing what you did and heading straight to that Ch….. town and leaving Tangier until the end. Love the detail in this post — exactly what I needed. Thank you!
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I am so happy this was able to help you Adam. I hope you enjoyed Chef as much as I did and that your time in Morocco is amazing.
Great post, thanks for the tips. A buddy and I just made the trip from Sevilla to Chefchaouene on January 1st, 2015. Our trip started with a 3 hour bus ride from Sevilla’s San Sebastian bus station to the port in Algeciras. Next we took an FRS ferry to Ceuta, which lasted about an hour and cost 38 euros. We took your advice and took the #7 bus to ‘La Frontera’, which took about 15-20 minutes and cost 80 cents. If we were in a time crunch, there were plenty of taxis at the port that could have taken us to the border.
Walking across the border we picked up an entry form from a random tout, right where the passport control station was located. It took about 15 minutes before we got to the window and had our passports stamped.
Crossing into Morocco, we were met by a few touts looking to make a buck but proceeded straight to where the grand taxis were parked. A man approached us and told us he was an official taxi rep, flashed some sort of badge, and asked us where we were trying to go. We agreed to pay 40 euros for a grand taxi to take us all the way to Chefchaouene, dropping us off at Hotel Khalifa. That’s it!
Hi Jaime,
Just wanted to thank you for providing this post – it made our crossing so smooth and effortless – indeed, it is one of the highlights of our trip thus far (such a surreal, enthralling experience).
And for any readers out there: the post remains relevant and quite accurate.
Paula & Mark
Thank you, so helpful. I am going to try it next year.
Jacqui